Split die reciprocating bender with ejection feature



July 14, 1959 w, K U ET AL 2,894,557

SPLIT DIE RECIPROCATING BENDER WITH EJECTION FEATURE Filed Nov. 23, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS W. E KRAz/s/s 6. NEUHA as w. F. KRAUSE ETAL 2,894,557

July 14, 1959 SPLIT DIE RECIPROCATING BENDER WITH EJECTION FEATURE Filed Nov. 23, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'INVENTORS W Alf/PA (/55 CJVfUHA us m. M

ATTOR/VFY SPLIT DIE RECIPROCATING BENDER WITH EJECTION FEATURE William F. Krause and Elmer C. Neuhans, Chicago, 111., assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application November 23, 1953, Serial No. 393,766 4 Claims. (Cl. 153-21) This invention relates to article-forming apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for bending one arm of an L-shaped strap into the form of a U.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved article-forming apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for bending one arm of an L-shaped strap into a U-shape and ejecting the resulting product.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus including a split punch for engaging one arm of an L-shaped strap to form that arm into the form of a U, and for withdrawing one portion of the punch from the bent arm so that the article fall oif the remaining portionof the punch.

An apparatus illustrating certain features of the invention may include a die into which an arm of an L-shaped strap may be pushed by a punch including twoslidable sections to form the arm into a U. One of the sections is provided with a notch therein to provide clearance for the other arm of the strap, and the other section is slidable relative to the first section so that it may be slide out of the strap to permit the strap to be moved from the notched section.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description of an apparatus forming a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which Fig. l is a perspective view of an article formed by an apparatus forming one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of an apparatus forming one embodiment of the invention with portions thereof shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with portions of the apparatus shown in different positions, and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken along line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown therein an apparatus for bending an arm 11 of an L-shaped strap into the shape of a U with a second arm 12 projecting over the interior of the U and for automatically ejecting the resulting article. This apparatus includes an upper movable platen 14 and a lower stationary platen 15. When the platen 14 is in its retracted position, a spring 16 and a stationary knockout bar 13 press a plunger rod 17 downwardly until a cap 18 abuts a shoulder 19, in which position a movable punch portion 20 projects considerably below a punch portion 21 fixed to the platen 14, the punch portions 20 being slidably mounted relative to the punch portion 21 bya guide key and slot 22.

With the platen 14 moved to its upper or retracted position by a ram 26 of the press, the L-shaped strap 10 is placed on shoulders 31 and 32 of a die 30 with the arm 12 abutting a stop 33 and a spring-pressed element 34 pressing against the other end of the strap. At this time, a former 36 is flush with the shoulders 31 Patented July 14, 1959 and 32. When the platen 14 is moved downwardly in its working stroke, the portion 20 of the punch first engages the strap and remains stationary, while the portion 21 of the punch continues to move down, until a shoulder 41 formed on the movable portion '20 abuts .a shoulder 42, at which point the lower ends of the portions 20 and 21 of the punch are flush.

'Dhe platen 14 continues its downward movement, and the punch portions 20 and 21 push the central portion of the strap 10 downwardly against the resisting pres:- sure of the former 36, which is supported by a spring 45, and is limited in downward movement by a plate 46. This operation bends the strap 10 into a foursided shape, the arm 12 moving into a notch 44 formed in the movable portion 20 of the punch. Then the punch is retracted by the ram 26, and the spring 45 being stronger than the spring 16, the-former pushes the article out of the die cavity. After further upward movement of the platen 14', the knockout bar 13 and the spring 16 hold the movable portion 20 stationary and the portion 21 of the punch is drawn farther upwardly and slides completely out of the formed article, and the piecepart falls off the movable portion 20' of the die by gravity. If desired, an air jet (not shown) may be actuated, to blow the formed article out of the press and of the punch portion 20.

The above-desoribed apparatus serves to rapidly form the articles, and surely and rapidly strips the articles from the punch so that no time is lost in this operation.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for forming an L-shaped blank into a recessed article having an inwardly turned flange, which comprises a forming die section having a recess therein, means for locating an L-shaped blank with the central portion of one arm thereof over the recess in the die section, a forming punch including two longitudinally movable parts of which one is provided with a notch therein, means for urging the notched part to a position extending beyond the other part, means for forcing the parts against the portion of the blank positioned over the recess to force a portion of the blank into the recess to form a recess in the blank, the notch in said part providing clearance for the other arm of the blank, said urging means permitting the notched part to be pressed back to a predetermined extent relative to the other punch part by engagement with the blank, means for withdrawing the recessed blank and the parts from the recess, and means for withdrawing the part not having the notch therein completely from the blank while the urging means keeps the notched part in the blank, whereby clearance is provided for removing the formed blank from the notched part.

2. An apparatus for forming recesses in blanks having a transverse projection at one end thereof such that the projection projects inwardly over the recess when the recess is formed therein, which comprises a punch longitudinally split including one portion having no notch therein and a second portion having a notch therein on one side thereof, a punch holder holding the unnotched portion of the punch rigidly and holding the notched portion of the punch slidably, said punch holder serving to limit movement of the notched portion of the punch in one direction such that the operative ends of the punches are flush and permitting movement of the notched portion of the punch relative to the unnotched portion thereof in the other direction to a position in which the notched portion of the punch extends beyond the unnotched portion thereof a substantial amount, means for moving the notched portion of the punch toward the last-mentioned position, a backing rod mounted slidably in the die, means urging the backing rod toward a position flush with the opening of the die and permitting movement of the backing rod to a position in which the end of the rod is flush with the bottom of the die, said last-mentioned urging means being sutficiently strong with respect to the moving means that the notched portion of the punch is kept flush with the unnotched portion thereof until the formed article is ejected completely from the die.

3. An apparatus for forming an elongated blank having an upwardly extending section into a U-shaped article having inwardly turned flange, which comprises a foiming die section having a recess therein, means for locating a blank over the recess in the forming die section, a forming punch composed of two movable parts one of which is provided with a notch, spline means interconnecting said forming parts to permit longitudinal movement of the notched part with respect to the unnotched part, means for urging the notched part to extend beyond the unnotched part, means for simultaneously moving said forming parts toward the blank whereby the notched part engages the blank and the unnotched part moves relative thereto into engagement with the blank, means on the moving means for limiting relative movement of the forming parts as the unnotched part moves into engagement with the blank so that further movement of the parts forces the blank into the recess and the upwardly extending section moves into the notch, said moving means being also effective to withdraw said forming parts, means within the recess for forcing the formed article to move from the recess with the forming parts, means rendered effective upon withdrawal of the article from the recess for forcing the notched part to move relative to the un- '4 notched part to eject the formed article 'from said forming parts, and means on said moving means for limiting said relative movement of notched and unnotched parts. 4. In an apparatus for forming a flat workpiece into a U-shape, a support for said workpiece having a recess formed therein, a backing member slidably mounted in said recess, a first spring means for urging said backing member into position to be flush with said support, a ram, a first forming member rigidly secured to theiram and positioned in alignment with said recess, a second forming member slidably mounted on the first forming member and within the ram, said second forming memher being also positioned in alignment with said recess, a second spring means for urging the second forming member to extend beyond the first forming member, said second spring means being weaker than said first spring means, means for moving the ram toward the support to move the second forming member into engagement with the workpiece whereafter the first forming member moves relative to the second forming member while the second spring means is compressed by the action of the first spring means, and a stop mounted on the ram for engaging said second forming member when the lower surface of said first forming member moves into lateral alignment with the lower surface of the second forming member.

I References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Maxwell Jan. 11, 1955 

